How to Place a Non-Residential Lot in The Sims 4
To place a non-residential lot in The Sims 4, you need to enable the "Free Build" cheat to unlock lot placement restrictions, enter Build Mode on a lot, change the lot type to a non-residential option, furnish appropriately for the venue, and open for visiting Sims.
Non-residential lots like retail stores, restaurants, parks, nightclubs, museums provide essential venues for our Sims to visit, have fun, and fill practical needs. Making our own with a bit of effort allows us to craft precisely the amenities we want in our Sim neighborhoods.
Comparing Non-Residential Lot Types
There are several non-residential lot types to pick from for different venue styles, each with unique features:
| Lot Type | Description | Requirements | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | Shops and markets to buy/sell products | Cash registers, shelves | ★★★★☆ |
| Restaurant | Make and serve food in eateries | Stoves, counters, kitchen objects | ★★★★★ |
| Museum | Public displays of collectibles, art | Decorated rooms and exhibits | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Park | Landscaped outdoor green spaces | Gardens, fountains, trails | ★★★★☆ |
| Nightclub | Dance venues with music, drinks | Bars, dance floors, DJ booths | ★★★☆☆ |
| Gym | Work out with fitness gear | Treadmills, weights, yoga mats | ★★★☆☆ |
*Popularity based on community lot downloads data from ModTheSims and TheSimsResource in 2022
Restaurants edge out retail for most popular, while specialized venues like museums and gyms lag. But creativity can make any lot type shine!
Enabling Free Placement with Cheats
The first step to placing a non-residential lot is overriding the game‘s usual placement rules. Enter the cheat console by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + C and input:
bb.enablefreebuild This enables "Free Build Mode", removing restrictions on where you can place and move lots around.
You can optionally add money too if cost is an issue:
MotherlodeNow you have the power to pick any lot or map location for developing!
Changing Lot Type in Build Mode
With free building activated, travel to a lot you want converted and enter Build Mode.
Click on the Household button in the top left, then under "Lot Type", browse the non-residential options like retail, restaurant etc. Select one to suit your business vision!
The lot terrain adapts to match your commercial venue choice.
If you forget this step first, the game prevents placing inappropriate objects. Lot type transforms the rules.
Ideal Locations for Different Venues
Certain lot features and areas suit some non-residential venues over others when aiming for realism and high visitor traffic.
Retail Shops & Markets
Place retail shops along roadways in commercial zones where community Sims walk, in spaces between housing for quick neighborhood access.
Maps like Oasis Springs‘ Main Street promote frequent pop-ins while passing. Premade shops shine here instead of isolated spots.
Restaurants & Cafes
Restaurants thrive when accessible but also having lovely atmosphere. Tuck cafes into city park peripheries, canal-side with water views in Brindleton Bay, rooftops in San Myshuno.
Positioning near big neighborhoods, travel hubs helps sustain customers while showcasing decor.
Museums & Galleries
Museums with specialized collections or community galleries deserve grand spaces like full-lot mansions in Windenburg‘s historical grandeur, Willow Creek‘s museums row.
Place off main residential roads but still near enough to encourage visitors. Surround with gardens, fountains to complement exhibits.
Parks & Trails
Hand-crafted landscaping makes each park unique. Try central neighborhood locations on doubled map lots for expansive lawns, playgrounds.
Combine with hiking/biking trail systems around islands in Windenburg, along Brindleton Bay‘s coastline to fully utilize the space while encouraging activity.
Get creative with your location choices but keep accessibility and surroundings in mind!
Furnishing Venues Appropriately
Once you decide on the venue and location, furnish suitably for business function and realism. Referencing real-world establishments helps.
Retail: Focus first on practical checkout counters and shelves to display products. Then craft store ambience with genre-themed decorations, aisle layouts mimicking actual shops.
Restaurants: Table and seating arrangements define space use. Allow serving pathways between. Add buffet stations, bar areas, kitchen equipment based on cuisine style. Brand decor combined with lighting and music completes flair.
For other venues, visit community lot downloads like Mimi‘s Museum of Oddities for abundantly furnished examples to inspire your own!
Unlocking Venues for Visitors
Once fully furnished, commercial lots enter "Closed" mode, blocking visitors by default. Click the open/closed sign by the lot name to toggle entry access.
With open permission, Townies randomly discover and populate locales like employee Sims reporting for duty. No more vacant spaces!
For fuller atmosphere especially in niche venues, manually direct added NPCs toward lot activities. Select characters > Direct to visit lot > Choose an action based on the location.
Now we‘ve covered full steps from empty terrain to functional hotspots. Read on for advanced tips elevating non-residential creations even further!
Tips for Enhanced Gameplay Experience
Beyond fundamentals, clever lot adjustments and bonus content additions make venues feel complete. Try these expert suggestions:
- For retail/restaurant owners, construct side-rooms or upper floors as personal quarters to live above the workplace!
- Install Get to Work for interactive clerk and chef capabilities plus purchaseable business perks.
- Allow employees to wear official uniforms matching the brand via dresser outfits.
- Utilize Get Together‘s club system where community regulars automatically gather.
- Create back-room storage areas for restaurant ingredient deliveries or retail inventory.
- Assign unique themes/dress codes per venue night with Get Together‘s club gatherings feature.
- Install mods allowing purchase of new restaurant foods or retail objects to enhance variety.
- Add Seasons and holiday decor flexibility via the ""holiday"" lot trait.
Tweaking with extra packs and mods keeps gameplay opportunities ever-growing!
The Takeaway
Non-residential lots require initial effort but deliver boundless entertainment value. Beyond their practical Sim needs-meeting purposes, they populate worlds with character and breed unique stories.
With the right placement enhanced by thoughtful design, they transform lifeless maps into vibrant communities. Master fundamentals like free building and type-switching, then embellish away with custom detail!
Let inspiration guide your leisure or profit-focused establishments. Before you know it, charming locale hotspots rich with delight will abound. Happy Simming!
